The long drive to Tulsa proved to be more fruitful for the hogs than the crimson and cream as the No. 9 Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Oklahoma Sooners 88-78 at the BOK Center. The Sooners are now 7-3 on the season while the Razorbacks improved to 9-1.
Four of the Razorbacks’ starting five scored in double digits. Nick Smith Jr. and Ricky Council IV each scored more than 20 points in the Arkansas win.
Both teams shot more than 57% from the field in the game. The Sooners held Arkansas to 33.3% from three-point range, but the Razorbacks scored the bulk of their points in the paint.
The difference in this game was the Arkansas defense. The Razorbacks collected 10 steals forced the Sooners into 15 turnovers. Arkansas only turned the ball over nine times in the game.
Grant Sherfield had another solid day, once again leading OU in points with 23. Sherfield also grabbed three steals on defense. It was Sherfield’s third 20-point game in the last four contests, proving to be the Sooners most important player this season.
Freshman guard Milos Uzan had a career-high 15 points and added five assists to provide the Sooners with a secondary scoring option. He was 7 of 11 from the field.
The Sooners did not play a bad game. They shot well, they outrebounded the Hogs and they played up to a superior opponent. The Razorbacks defense proved to be too much for the Sooners. Porter Moser still has a bit of time to get his OU squad ready to go before Big 12 opponents start showing up on the schedule.
While other OU students are headed home for the holiday break, OU basketball will come return to Norman to face Central Arkansas. After that, they’ll head East to play the Florida Gators in Charlotte for the Jumpman Invitational.
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